Soil Collection Project commemorates the life of Samuel “Mingo Jack” Johnson

The New Jersey Social Justice Remembrance Coalition in partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) is preparing for the Soil Collection ceremony at Wampum Park, in Eatontown, on Oct. 24 at 3 pm, where Samuel “Mingo” Jack Johnson was lynched.

The coalition is acknowledging and honoring the life of Johnson, with a series of community initiatives to follow.

Johnson was an African American resident of Eatontown, New Jersey, who was lynched on March 5, 1886, after being arrested on unfounded charges of raping a white woman.

He was dragged by a local white mob from his cell, brutally beaten and hanged to death. This was the only documented lynching in New Jersey.

Social Justice Remembrance Coalition Soil Collection Project

With the Coalition partnering with EJI, the lives of over 4,000 Black Americans, across the country are no longer being invalidated, and the truth of the United States ugly past is no longer being swept under the rug.

The historical marker will be placed at the lynching site and the six-member Council received a resolution from the council for its work.

“The soil under our feet tells a story,” said Minister Kerwin Webb, who is the Coalition’s Liaison to EJI.

“Soil holds many memories that are hidden and overlooked, and we want to tell those hidden stories so we can grow something new and different.”

The Coalition is comprised of a diverse group of social justice advocacy organizations from across the state. To get involved in this historic initiative contact: soil@njremembrance.org